Usually around this time of the year, the Kansas City Chiefs are gearing up for a deep postseason run. This year has proven different, with the team missing the playoffs for the first time since 2013. With three games left to go, and quarterback Patrick Mahomes ruled out for the rest of the season with a torn ACL, you’d figure head coach Andy Reid would use this time to evaluate the roster and give the young players an opportunity.
That was the expectation for rookie receiver Jalen Royals heading into Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans, as the Chiefs ruled out receivers Tyquan Thornton and Rashee Rice. However, Royals was not utilized as expected, as he recorded zero touches on just three snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.
Instead, Reid turned to playing veterans JuJu Smith-Schuster and Hollywood Brown over Royals. This decision by Reid has already been heavily criticized by fans, as it made zero sense to play the veteran receivers when they’re already eliminated from the playoffs.
Chiefs Must Stop Ignoring Rookie WR Jalen Royals
Chiefs fans were excited in the offseason when the team selected Royals in the fourth-round of the draft. In college, his explosiveness, combined with his playmaking ability, made him an intriguing pickup, as he was viewed as a perfect complement to Xavier Worthy and Rice.
While Royals was promising during training camp and preseason, recording three receptions for 14 yards in just one game, an injury and a crowded receiving room hampered any chance of him receiving meaningful playing time. Even with the Chiefs struggling throughout the season on offense, Reid hardly gave Royals any chance on offense, as he appeared in just 35 snaps before Week 16, with none coming since Oct. 19.
This was supposed to be the week that Reid integrated Royals into the offense and saw what he had with him. And yet he went with Smith-Schuster and Brown over him. The only logical reason for this decision would be that Reid doesn’t think Royals is ready yet.
But how can Reid make this decision based on now-38 snaps? Although Royals wouldn’t have done much with the current quarterback situation, you can’t conclude an evaluation of a player on that small a sample size. Besides, it's not like the veteran duo did much with their opportunities, as Brown turned three targets into as many catches for 22 yards, while Smith-Schuster only mustered one 12-yard gain despite being targeted four times.
Reid's rookie mishandling isn't limited to Royals, as it also extends to running back Brashard Smith. Despite their running game being awful this year and recent reports of them moving on from Isiah Pacheco, the Chiefs played Smith just eight snaps on Sunday.
The only way for someone to develop and improve is if they get the experience. With Reid not playing Royals or Smith, it’s evident that he doesn’t think highly of them. There’s zero exemption to not play a fourth-round selection; otherwise, it's just a waste of a pick.
Even if Reid isn’t confident with Royals, he cannot make this same mistake again. Hopefully, in the coming days, the Chiefs will realize their ongoing mistake and make a fair evaluation of Royals by properly integrating him into the offense.